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Post by machongsamoa on Jul 11, 2013 9:13:08 GMT -5
Hi
I'm looking for my wife's grandfather.
His name was Ma Chong (spelling?). He came to Apia, Samoa in the late 1920s, as an indentured labourer, worked off his indenture, established a successful business, married and had three boys.
He went back to China in 1941/42 but was never heard from again. We believe he was from around Taishan or Panyu but this is just because we have read that the majority of indentured labourers at that time came from this area.
We don't know where to start looking for him, or if there is any hope of finding him.
Any suggestions or help would be gratefully received.
regards
Andrew
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Post by helen on Jul 12, 2013 5:48:49 GMT -5
Is there any chance you have photos, chinese characters? I know that the Chinese were all sent away from Samoa at that time. Many people have no idea of who their father's were. It's likely the name was Ah Chong - and there are lots of people with that name. RACES INTER-MARRY. BIG PROBLEM IN SAMOA. CHINESE TO BE REPATRIATED. (By Telegraph.Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, Monday. The repatriation of Chinese and Melaneeian labour at present in Samoa will be commenced by the New Zealand Government during the coming 12 months. Referring to the visit of the goodwill mission on its "return to Lyttelton to-dav? Mr. James O'Brien, M.P. for Westland, stated that the question of the inter-marriage of the was one of the big problems of Samoa and the delegation had given the people there an undertaking to repatriate the laboiir that had been brought into the country during the past administration. Over 200 Chinese would leave Samoa for their own country in less than 12 months and other drafts of Chinese and Melanesians would be made from year to year until outside labour had been removed. It was not possible to repatriate all the Chinese and Melanesian labour at once, as it was necessary that some of these people should be retained to complete the work on copra plantations, for which they had been originally engaged. Mr. O'Brien added that the delegation had formed the opinion that the Samoans could easily be brought to become industrious and. under proper Government supervision, could be allowed to work out their own destinv. Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 183, 4 August 1936, Page 10 www.familysearch.org/s/collection/list#page=1®ion=PACIFIC_ISLANDSamoa Baptisms, 1863-1940 Description Index to selected Samoa baptisms. Only a few localities are included and the time period varies by locality. This collection contains 28,013 records. Due to privacy laws, recent records may not be displayed. The year range represents most of the records. A few records may be earlier or later. Samoa Burials, 1895-1970 Description Index to selected Samoa burials. Only a few localities are included and the time period varies by locality. This collection contains 42,061 records. Due to privacy laws, recent records may not be displayed. The year range represents most of the records. A few records may be earlier or later. Try seeking help on this facebook page. www.facebook.com/SamoanGenealogy?fref=pb&hc_location=profile_browserNew mailing list, created August 4, 2000 for Samoan family history researchers to post queries, discuss history and genealogy research problems specific to Samoa and America Samoa. boards.rootsweb.com/localities.oceania.samoa/mb.ashx |
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Post by machongsamoa on Jul 13, 2013 4:45:30 GMT -5
Thank you, Helen.
We don't have any photos of characters.
For some time, we thought it was Ah Chong but were sternly corrected by my wife's grandmother (Ma Chong's Samoan wife), adamant it was was Ma Chong.
Other than that, we have nothing.
Thank you for the clues in familysearch and rootsweb.
I am feeling it may be hopeless.
regards
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Post by helen on Jul 13, 2013 5:32:11 GMT -5
Hi there, It may seem hopeless, as I know many people in your situation.
The trouble with the Chinese, they were poor people, who looked for the opportunity to go overseas to make a living. They may have been illiterate, and the people who recorded the names, as they got off the boat, were the reason why everyone was called "Ah" - That wasn't their real name. Only their Surname was recorded - not the first name.
Unless you can get information from the plantation owners, it may be a very hard row to hoe. Does his wife have any information of which plantation - I know there was an Arp family. Must have been more plantation owners though.
I believe that they may have had a Chinese organisation, and perhaps a church. Are you in Samoa? or elsewhere? Is there some sort of archives in Samoa?
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Post by douglaslam on Jul 13, 2013 8:34:52 GMT -5
Hi Andrew / machongsamoa, if your family name is Ma, the chances are your ancestor was from one of two Ma clan villages I know of in my home county in Guangdong province. The people from my county were prominent in Sydney and regional N.S.W., and the Pacific islands especially Fiji. I know of a few Mas myself.
As Helen has mentioned above, we need more information in Chinese. If the information is available, i can do a little of the leg work on ground level because I'll be in China in November. I can go to both Ma villages to make enquiries. I had some success last year also with a Ma family, from Peru. My party found the Peruvian's China-side of the family. Come November, the Peruvian Carlos and me are making a trip together to link up with the long lost family members. Good luck. Douglas
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Post by machongsamoa on Mar 31, 2014 2:20:21 GMT -5
Hi all, I have been off the board for some time and apologise for my absence.
I appreciate the advice and comments.
It is difficult for us to know much about my wife's grandfather. He returned to China in 1942 because of the war and was never heard from again, by us at least.
He had worked-off his indenture and had established a shop in Apia, Samoa. He had three sons and a wife. I imagine he would have made some effort at contacting them if he had lived, but I don't know.
I will contact the Chinese Society in Apia for some help.
douglaslam, I am so sorry I did not see your post earlier. Thank you for your kind offer. If you plan another trip please let me know. How did the trip to Peru go?
Andrew
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Post by douglaslam on Mar 31, 2014 7:16:59 GMT -5
Andrew, I did not go to Peru. I was expecting Carlos from Peru to join me to visit China, and I'd act as his guide. Carlos is a fledgling engineer who found it difficult to get permanent appointment. He is unlikely to join me this year because he found saving up for the trip was harder than he had thought.
I am going to China again in October or perhaps earlier. If you have a name / village in Chinese,preferably in Chungshan county, I'll make esquires on your behalf.
Laohuaqiao, if you are reading this, I'd like to read your piece on zupu again. I cannot remember where it was posted.
Douglas
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Post by laohuaqiao on Mar 31, 2014 12:19:56 GMT -5
Douglas,
Not sure which zupu post you are referring to, the recent posts in dragonchef's thread on Zheng jiapu?
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Post by douglaslam on Apr 1, 2014 5:23:15 GMT -5
Laohuaqiao, I should have been more specific. I was referring to your post on the significance of the zupu, sometimes seen as a legal document in the old days. Douglas
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Post by laohuaqiao on Apr 1, 2014 14:32:57 GMT -5
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Post by douglaslam on Apr 2, 2014 5:17:25 GMT -5
Yes, this is the link I am after. Thanks laohuaqiao. It is an excellent summary. I shall copy it, refer and quote from it from time to time.
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Post by Doug 周 on Apr 2, 2014 10:08:18 GMT -5
I also copied laohuaqiao's post into my personal library for easier referencing. His insights have become valuable resources for Chinese family historians.
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